Greetings comic book fans and welcome to another episode of the Crank File. Every Wednesday is new comic book day and on Tuesdays I like to spotlight some of the stuff I’ll be checking out. It’s the dreaded fifth Wednesday of the month. You know the drill, annuals, one shots, quality time with the family. Horrifying. But fear not because I dug deep to find you something good to read.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

The Top of the Pile: Hunt for Wolverine: Dead Ends #1

Publisher: MarvelWords: Charles ShouleArt: Ramon Rosana

What it is: THE HUNT IS OVER. The hunt for Wolverine is over… Now the time has come to put the pieces together and see what was learned. Kitty Pryde, Daredevil, Tony Stark and Sabretooth may have found what they were looking for…but it wasn’t what they expected. Where has Wolverine been? What has he been doing? And how does it lead into next month’s WOLVERINE #1? Parental Advisory

Why we love it: Dead Ends #1 is actually the last issue in the five-issue ‘Hunt for Wolverine’ mini (they were ridiculously all #1’s), leading into Return of Wolverine #1 (of 5), the final chapter of writer Charles Shoule’s Death of Wolverine trilogy. Ol’ Canucklehead’s coming home. And I hear he’s got heat claws now? Can’t wait to hear this one. Killer Marco Checchetto cover.

The Mainstream One: Web of Venom Ve Nam #1 (1-shot)

Publisher: MarvelWords: Donny CatesArt: Juanan Ramirez

What it is: SPINNING OUT OF THE PAGES OF VENOM! As the United States of America struggled through the Vietnam War, Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. needed a secret weapon – and when an ancient creature was discovered at an archaeological dig site, he was sure he’d found it. In reality, the discovery was an ancestor of the Klyntar symbiotes…and would become a waking nightmare for a platoon of American soldiers! Rated T+

Why we like it: Donny Cates’ run on Venom is a glorious piece of horror and off to an excellent start. This one shot will almost certainly be a beautiful, dark nightmare as well. You probably don’t need to be all caught up with the main series to appreciate this symbiote one-off, set during the nightmare that was the Vietnam War.

The Indie One: Rick and Morty vs Dungeons & Dragons #1

Publisher: IDWWords: Patrick Rothfuss and Jim ZubArt: Troy Little

What it is: When Morty needs to learn how to play D&D to keep up with the cool kids, his hard-drinking, old school-gaming, mad science-making grandpa is happy to teach him how to roll the dice, but neither of them is prepared for the saving throws they’re about to fail or the true quest yet to come. Strap on a +1 longsword and grab your 10-foot pole, because this is going to be a gaming gauntlet like no other! The world’s greatest role-playing game. Reality’s most dysfunctional family. What could go wrong?

Why we like it: RnM vs DnD. Somebody at IDW was wearing their helm of intellect when they pitched this series. I expect this one will be popular with the kids. Hoping I can find the Morty character sheet variant soI can see how he rolled.

The #1 One: Venom First Host #1

Publisher: MarvelWords: Mike CostaArt: Mark Bagley

What it is: MIKE COSTA AND MARK BAGLEY REUNITE FOR A VENOM STORY UNLIKE ANY OTHER! Before the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN…before VENOM… There was the FIRST HOST. And that First Host has returned in need of Venom’s help – only by reuniting can the two avert cosmic ruin! Can Eddie and the symbiote trust one another long enough to save the galaxy, or will the FIRST HOST prove to be Venom’s undoing?! Rated T+

Why we like it: And yet another Venom title. It must almost be movie time. This limited series explores the history of the Klyntar symbiote prior to Secret Wars and it’s first host. That’s right, before Eddie Brock and before Peter Parker, there was another.

What it is: When Daffy Duck pays a call to the Acme corporate headquarters in Gotham City, he finds the company long gone and their abandoned building now occupied by The Joker. With a hit in progress, Daffy tries to sneak away, only to find himself in the clutches of the Clown Prince of Crime. But Joker decides that there’s some potential in this manic bird and forces Daffy to join his gang. Will he find a way to escape…or will he become The Joker’s new right-hand duck?

Greetings comic book fans and welcome to another episode of the Crank File. Every Wednesday is new comic book day and on Tuesdays I like to spotlight some of the stuff I’ll be checking out.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

The Top of the Pile: Venom #5

Publisher: MarvelWords: Donny CatesArt: Ryan Stegman

What it is: An ancient Klyntar has awakened on Earth, and with it, something has stirred in Eddie Brock’s symbiote. And while Venom would never do anything to hurt Eddie or an innocent person, the ancient symbiote has no such qualms… Rated T+

The Mainstream One: Black Panther #3

Publisher: MarvelWords: Ta-Nehisi CoatesArt: Daniel Acuna

What it is: THE INTERGALACTIC EMPIRE OF WAKANDA CONTINUES! The rebels make their move! On the verge of liberating the Nameless, T’Challa, M’Baku and Nakia hunt for mysterious artifact that promises to turn the tide. What is the M’Kraan Shard? And will T’Challa find its acquisition worth the cost? Rated T

The Indie One: Black Hammer: Age of Doom #4

Publisher: Dark HorseWords: Jeff LemireArt: Dean Ormston

What it is: The Eisner Award-winning superhero saga returns with lots of revelations! All is revealed when Lucy makes her way back to the farm from Dreamland, confronting the mastermind of their current situation. The revelations here will alter the fate of the Black Hammer family forever!

The #1 One: Punisher #1

Publisher: MarvelWords: Matthew RosenbergArt: Riccardo Buchielli

What it is: YOU CAN TAKE THE PUNISHER OUT OF THE WAR MACHINE… Punisher no longer has the War Machine armor, but he retained his newly acquired taste for big game, and he’s hungry for more. However, the paths to such perilous pursuits are fraught with dangers bigger than any Frank has faced before, and this lone wolf could use otherworldly help on his way up to the world stage. MATTHEW ROSENBERG continues pushing the boundaries of the Punisher, and now joined by acclaimed artist RICCARDO BURCHIELLI (DMZ, Northlanders), this is the book Punisher fans will be talking about for years to come! Parental Advisory

What it is: Then, the pulse-pounding ‘On the Outside’ storyline hurtles toward its cataclysmic conclusion! Batman has tasked Katana, Black Lightning, the Signal and Orphan (a.k.a. Cassandra Cain) with stopping a rogue operator using alien technology that can crack into any mind on Earth! What does this case have to do with the Brainiac Files seen in JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE #1? And how does Amanda Waller factor in? Guess you’re ‘outside’ of Batman’s circle of trust… for now.

Welcome to another edition of our Pop Culture Talk here at Great Stories!

This month Chris, Phil (Production Guy), and Tylor chat up the new Castle Rock series from Hulu, Ant-man & Wasp, the upcoming cross-over of Dungeons and Dragon with Magic the Gathering, and a couple other odds and ends.

We hope you enjoy the video! Please comment on our Youtube page and let us know your thoughts, questions, and requests!

Greetings comic book fans and welcome to another episode of the Crank File. Every Wednesday is new comic book day and on Tuesdays I like to spotlight some of the stuff I’ll be checking out.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

The Top of the Pile: Extermination #1

Publisher: MarvelWords: Ed BrissonArt: Pepe Larraz

What it is: Cyclops. Iceman. Angel. Beast. Marvel Girl. The original team of teen mutants brought together by Professor Charles Xavier many years ago have been shunted through time to find a world they barely recognize but were determined to help. Now, finding themselves targeted for death, the future of mutantkind lies squarely in the hands of its past. Writer Ed Brisson (OLD MAN LOGAN, CABLE) and artist Pepe Larraz (UNCANNY AVENGERS, AVENGERS: NO SURRENDER) answer the biggest question of all: can the fate of the X-Men be changed? Rated T+

The Mainstream One: Batman #53

Publisher: DCWords: Tom KingArt: Lee Weeks

What it is: ‘Cold Days’ continues! The jury in the Mr. Freeze trial is hopelessly deadlocked because one man won’t vote guilty-and that man is Bruce Wayne. Freeze’s defense is that Batman used excessive force, making his arrest illegal, and Bruce is the one man who actually knows for sure what went down between Batman and his ice-cold nemesis. And if Bruce is right, that means everything he’s devoted himself to as the Caped Crusader is a lie; he is hurting more than helping. With Dick Grayson putting the Batsuit back on to keep Gotham City safe while Bruce is sequestered, could this be the out Bruce needs to discard the cape and cowl forever? The Eisner Award-nominated team of Tom King and Lee Weeks reexamine the relationship between hero and foe, as Batman relives not just that one violent night when he took down the King of Cold, but every time the two have come to blows.

The Indie One: Gideon Falls #6

Publisher: ImageWords: Jeff LemireArt: Andrea Sorrentino

What it is: ‘THE BLACK BARN’: Conclusion-Father Fred enters The Black Barn on a daring rescue attempt but nothing can prepare him for the horrors within. Meanwhile Norton and Angie delve deeper into Norton’s past and zero in on the secrets of the Barn. A 2018 Eisner Award nominee for Best Writer, JEFF LEMIRE!

The #1 One: Pearl #1

Publisher: DCWords: Brian Michael BendisArt: Michael Gaydos

What it is: From the Peabody Award-winning creators of Jessica Jones comes a brand-new creation. PEARL is the story of an exceptional tattoo artist and accidental assassin for one of the modern-day San Francisco Yakuza. She was born into one life, but another is calling to her. When Pearl accidentally meets one of her peers, her doppelgänger from another clan, she starts to dream of a better life. But Pearl has a very special ability that keeps pulling her back into the violent world she is desperate to escape. PEARL is a major series launch from writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos that features their first brand-new original character since Jessica Jones. Fans of the Jessica Jones comic and TV show will be thrilled and delighted by this bold new direction the creative team has taken.

The One I’m Buying for the Cover: Aquaman #39

What it is: Guest-starring Task Force X, and continuing from SUICIDE SQUAD #45, also on sale this month! After Atlantis rises to the surface once more, Aquaman finds himself outnumbered and outgunned when Amanda Waller sends in the worst of the worst-the Suicide Squad-to send the Lost City straight to Hell in ‘Sink Atlantis!’ part two!

Greetings comic book fans and welcome to another episode of the Crank File. Every Wednesday is new comic book day and on Tuesdays I like to spotlight some of the stuff I’ll be checking out.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

The Top of the Pile: Sandman Universe #1

Publisher: DCWords: Si SpurrierArt: Bilquis Evely

What it is: From the mind of New York Times #1 bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a new world filled with dreams, nightmares and wonderful characters living together in a shared universe for a new story unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. A rift between worlds has opened, revealing a space beyond the Dreaming. Meanwhile, a book from Lucien’s library is discovered by a group of children in the waking world where it should not exist. Lucien calls for Matthew the Raven to seek out their master, Daniel, Lord of Dreams. As Matthew flies across the Waking World and others, he finds a young boy named Timothy Hunter who, in his dreams, has become the world’s most powerful magician-but in his nightmares he is the world’s greatest villain. A new House has appeared in the realm of the Dreaming: the House of Whispers, with its proprietor, a fortune-teller called Erzulie. And elsewhere, Lucifer has fallen again, only this time he might be trapped in a Hell of his own design. Spiraling out of this special issue will be four all-new series set in the Sandman Universe. It all starts here!

The Mainstream One: Red Hood and the Outlaws #25

Publisher: DCWords: Scott LobdellArt: Dexter Soy

What it is: Batman versus Red Hood for the right to fight in Gotham-grab your ringside seat for the battle 25 years in the making! Jason Todd broke a promise to his mentor, and must now confront an angry and betrayed Batman. That means a good time for readers, but probably not so much for Jason: it’s likely going to take more than the Outlaws’ help in order for the Red Hood to avoid wearing an orange jumper in prison.

The Indie One: Hey Kids! Comics! #1

Publisher: ImageWords: Howard Victor ChaykinArt: Don Cameron

What it is: SERIES PREMIERE! HEY KIDS! COMICS! takes its cue from nearly a century of turbulence and triumph, despair and drama in the comic book racket. Artists and writers, con men and clowns, ganefs and gangsters, create the foundations of today’s biggest entertainment business-or at least the tail that wags the dog. Some of it really happened, and the names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty… although in the end, everyone was guilty of something.

The #1 One: Fantastic Four #1

Publisher: MarvelWords: Dan SlottArt: Sara Pichello

What it is: FOUREVER Part One BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT – THE WORLD’S GREATEST COMIC MAGAZINE IS BACK! Since the end of SECRET WARS, there’s been a gap in the Marvel Universe. A void no other team can fill. And it’s time for the world to move on. But can it? A life-changing decision by the Thing! A momentous declaration by the Human Torch! A clarion call-to-arms that summons Doctor Doom! And a signal in the sky that heralds the return of hope to the Marvel Universe! All this, and Alicia Masters adopts kittens! So cute! Plus, the Impossible Man! AND BONUS STORIES ILLUSTRATED BY SIMONE BIANCHI AND SKOTTIE YOUNG! IF YOU READ ONLY ONE MARVEL COMIC THIS MONTH, THIS IS THE ONE! Rated T

The One I’m Buying for the Cover: Flash #52

What it is: On your mark, get set and go for part one of ‘Grips of Strength’! Barry Allen races to the House of Heroes at the center of the Multiverse to meet with the Flashes of 52 worlds for info on the new forces he’s recently encountered. Meanwhile, back in Central City, Trickster’s turning informant against Warden Wolfe, but that brings about a sneak attack that Barry and the time-lost Commander Cold must team up to stop-if they can quit butting heads long enough to do so.

In this past month’s Pop Culture Talk, we delve into Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom before we head back into Netflix territory with both Luke Cage Season Two and Voltron. After that, we chat up Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, which airs on Freeform and then finish the conversation with Westworld.

We are shooting two new vids tonight, which we promise to get out to you later this week! What will we be talking about? Well, you’ll just have to wait a few more days to find out.

We are a bit late in getting this video out to you but summer vacation schedules were the theme of the month. But fear not, we are back! This month we talk about lots of the new Marvel relaunches including Thor, Immortal Hulk, Tony Stark Iron Man, and Venom. We also look at continuing series Champions and the wind down of the X-Men Gold book. DC is not totally forgotten in this month’s edition as we discuss Teen Titans. And we finish up by spotlighting the amazing Gideon Falls series from Image, which has just been optioned as a TV show!